Guys,
I tried everything on my own to get my hands on a set of japanese Kg/mm brand springs (ケージーエムホームページ). More specifically a DR-Proceed line. For our beloved Fit they list two different sets - SS (super sport) and R (race).
These springs are DUAL RATE PROGRESSIVE. True, dual rate progressive.

I managed to get a set for my GSR years ago by accident and I liked them so much that I pulled out race springs out of my CRX and put these in with minor front perch modification. Car rides on Koni yellows. I tred so many different springs and nothing comes even close to these. I autocrossed for years.
On both GSR w/stock shocks and CRX w/ Koni's there is no rough ride at all. Actualy they are softer than stock over bumps soacking them like they are not even there. When you start cornering there is no body roll, period.
Both cars have much better traction out of corners and on real life bumpy roads. Canyon roads are where these realy shine.
Can anybody who speaks japanese get me hooked up with a SS set?
Even better would be if we can get a volume buy if more members are interested. Freight would get much cheaper for everybody.
Thank you in advance,
Ivan

 

I will try to check with some friends in Japan and see what he says. It might be awhile before I hear back from them though.

So it's the KGM DR Proceeds, correct?

 

Yes, "SS" (super sport) version to be exact. As you can see from picture below, they do not actually list part numbers which makes things more difficult.
Hey jbrisson, thank you so much for exploring the possibility of making it happen. I wish I had reliable hook up in Japan and be able to get those springs here in larger volume. It would make everything currently available on the US market obsolete.

 

Did you take those with a digi cam? lol. Your keyboard should have a "print screen" function on one of the top keys after F12 or somewhere. Just hit that, open up MS Paint and paste it there. It might save you the trouble and your batteries next time. I used to do the same thing. lol

If you have anything else from Japan that you'd like me to look into. They're pretty reliable guys over there, it just takes me awhile to get through to them sometimes.

 

Hi, I just sent KGM an email for you asking if they take international orders, and if not, do they have an agent here in the US that an order could be placed with. I'll post their reply once it comes in.

 

Is getting a JDM spring really worth the hassle? A good spring is all about the spring/strut combination, there is no such thing as a magical spring.

 

If you're not planning on changing the struts anytime soon, then getting a spring that works well with the struts you've got is the logical choice. If that spring happens to be a JDM spring, then it's worth the hassle.

 

I used Kg/mm DR21 supersport & DR racing before and I just loved them. I would prefer to have DR21 SS now if they still have this line. If the price is right I would definitely get a set for my Fit too.

 

LOL!
jbrisson, you got me so excited with your reply! All my hopes went up in smoke up to now. I was about to download some pics off my camera which was connected already, so I just snaped them right off the screen!
I appreciate all your efforts.

Chikubi, same to you my friend. BTW, you are right on the money with your explanation to j0ebert. Car manufacturers are facing stiff competition from each other and their profit margins are getting smaller by the minute. They have no intention on geting maximum from every single component by spending more to produce it. These springs are perfect example.

For people not familiar with Kg/mm, DR-Proceed line read on: They have two compression rates in one coil. Same gets achived by using tender springs in conjunction with race springs. Basically two springs per shock. Problem is that as great that is for tuning to individual track, it is impractical and too costly for us mortals. These springs have primary (tender part) softer than OEM for Cadillac type ride for first inch or so of travel, giving it comfort and traction out of corners on bad surfaces. Original (main) part of the coil is at least 15-20% stiffer than OEM for eliminated body roll and pushing things to the limit (and beyond, LOL!). Transition between the two is impossible to notice. This can only be duplicated with active suspension for thousands more. That makes these springs unique. Nobody to my knowledge manufactures their springs like this. They are either race stiff or single linear progressive. That means you have to compromise between comfort and performance. With these there is no compromise!
If you are not using your Fit on track only, but are stuck drving it daily, would you rather keep loosing your teeth fillings by spending up to $300 on Spoon springs just because they are Spoon or would you preffer spending up to that much for a great ride?

I am 36 years old and I got automatic Fit to prevent me from turning it into a track car driven on the street. That is what I did with my CRX in my teens and I like that car so much I will never get rid of it. I crave stick and blasts through the canyons and autocrossing, track,..It is way to uncomfortable as a daily driver! I am contemplating about converting it for the seventh time to pass smog and put it back to full race mode right after just to be able to drive it on public roads again from time to time!
Fit will get moded with comfort and convinience as key element. Shock will stay OEM. Power mods will be mild. Everything will be done subtle.

Guys, once again, thank you for your effort even if it does not bear fruit at the end.

 

nice springs, but i would not go on a mission to ge them

 

Thanks for your posts, "Neighbor". I will be watching, and hoping for a good outcome from Chikubi's and jbrisson's contacts. Depending upon price and availability, I would be interested in ordering these springs too.

Good luck!

 

Struts and shocks are wear and tear items. It doesn't matter what lowering spring you use with the stock configuration, they are going to wear them out eventually because they are lower and stiffer. If you plan on doing springs, plan on doing your struts/shocks down the road (a matter of when not if).

I'm not tryin to rain on your parade, but if you're going to lower the car there are much easier ways of doing so rather than hiring and interpreter and paying freight from Japan. Good luck with whatever you choose.

 

Ciburri did not mention an interest in lowering his Fit, just his interest in the dual compression rate of these springs, which would have no negative effect on stock struts and shocks.

 

That's pretty common knowledge and correct, but keep in mind that there are no aftermarket struts specifically for the USDM Fit out now, and your only choice for coilovers are the T1R's or Tein Basic's, both of which are at a substantially higher cost than just a set of springs or even struts/springs usually. Keeping that in mind, most people are probably gonna stay with the stock struts for now, so picking a spring that works well with them is about the best you can hope for. Yes, you could do it easy and get a set from here, but if there are better performing springs available from overseas then that's the way to go. Some people aren't so much concerned with price and hassle as they are other things like drivability, comfort, handling, etc.

 

Correct! My goal is ride quality without any body roll in corners. When I say ride quality I think about driving on concrete paved FWY by myself or another passenger without anything on the back of the car and not bouncing back end up and down like yoyo! I had the same problem with my GSR sedan and entirely eliminated it with these springs.
I can live with 40mm (1.6 in) front drop and 35mm (1.4in) rear drop these springs provide. I do not like fender gaps, but I do not wont to scrape driveways either.
Yeah, I know. I wont the cake and to eat it too!
Is it wear and tear item? Yes! The entire car actually is, just like a pair of shoes.
Is it worth going through all the trouble? To me yes. I drive it every day and will be doing so for dozen years at least. I have my CRX for 17 years.
I had same Kg/mm springs in my GSR for 4 years and in my CRX for 6 more and counting. Since initial settling of springs they are all within 4mm from original height.
It is all relative and we all have different taste when it comes to mods. And it is perfectly OK to have different opinions. Great thing about Fit is that knows no age or gender boundaries unlike most cars. Just look at the ages of our Fitfreak members! Fit drivers have no egoes either. No million horsepower claims and fishing stories!
The other day I stoped at the light next to a silver Fit that parks few blocks down the street from me. Driver was in his 30's with a wife sitting next to him. We smiled, noded to each other and when light turned green slowly took of the line. He eventualy let me merge to his lane so I can make a turn. That is what Mini owners get by paying $10K more to lack magic rear seats!
I love this forum and it's community. Stickers are not enough to show appreciation. I would pay monthly membership fee to keep it going if it was required. Great job moderators!
I appologize for making long posts. I do not post lot of threads, but when I do, I have a lot to say.

 

i thought i remember seeing that spoon springs are made by kg/mm for them. Can anybody confirm this?

 

I don't want to get anyone too excited, but I think the forecast is looking good for me to be able to get my hands on these here.

 

j-
Please mark me down for SERIOUS interest.
Thanks---

 

This is good. KGM has yet to respond to my email, which is odd for a Japanese company I think.

 

The Progress springs lower the Fit 1.5" in the front and 1.3" in the rear, they are progressive, and they are readily available. The Progress Group, Inc. Online Store

The reason Fit springs have to be 'progressive' is because if you want to lower the car in the rear without the spring falling out of the bucket when you put it on a lift you have to add those "dead coils". Essentially those coils are just going to sit on themselves once they are under load (same free length as stock, yet lowers the car under load). The whole 'progressive' spring rate is kind of blown out of the water in my opinion; it's not magic, it's making sure the spring you get doesn't have a rate that's going to ruin your strut/shock in X,XXX miles.

I think you're looking too hard. I did that once too; ended up paying $400 for "awesome progressive springs" from Canada then rode in my buddys car with $150 Progress springs and realized I could have spent my money better elsewhere.